The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-08-27
CALIFORNIA WOODS.
THEIR EFFECT WHEN PROPERLY
POLISHED AND FINISHED.

Figures and Markings Accounted For
HandsOmest Woods for House DecOra.
tion-Growth of the Misunderstanding
Fancy WOOds-Queer Figures.
"Oh, yes" said the architect, "naturai
woods are now being used very extensively
for the interior finish OF expensive houses.
Here is the plan of house which we are now
building in San Mateo, and, as you see, all
the ceilings are in panels, and there on the
side OF the rooms are wainscotings of oak. OF
course, this is a very expensive house, as the
oak is of the best and comes from the east"
"How long has this fashion been in vogueg''
asked the reporter.
"Well, natural wood interiors have been
used to some extent in the houses of wealthy
people for the past eight years, but recently
they have come greatly into demand. In
fact, the architectural tastes of Californians
in general, and of San Franciscans in par
ticuIar, think, are vastly improving The
woods fer interiors, of course, to be used adj
yantageousy must 30 hard woods. Cal
IfOrnia laurel, white cedar, redwood, eastern
maple and oak and MEXICAN mahogany are
generally used, and yOu have no idea what
pretty effect they make when properly pol
ished end finished As you know, nearly all
these woods have naturally pretty figures and
lines in them, and their surfaces look much
handsomer than paper or painted boards"
Talking about natural figures" interrupt
ed a dealer in fancy woods, who was listen
ing to the convs rsatiom, Il have seen some
very pretty and unique ones on the natural
wood, and in my museum have a number of
interesting specimens. / find that the pretti-
est figures are generally on the wood of trees
which grow in marshy or well irrigated
place"
How do you account for that" asked the
reporter.
"Well," replied the wood dealer 81 think
that the bark outgrows the twig, and will
therefore wrinkle. When the twig grows the
wood will, of course. fill up all the wrinkles
and cavities in the bark, and its surface will
therefore be marked and riffied This is what
makes the figures on the wood. Sometimes,
also, the bark runs through the heart of the
tree. This is u fact not generally known, but
to it | attribute the existence of so many hoI-
low trees In the forests of California, for the
bark win be ignited from any prairie fire
and burn through the core of the trunk, leav-
ing the tree hollow"
THE HAyDSOMEST WOODS.
What do you consider the handsomest
woods of the coast for house decorations"
"Well, scarcely care to commit myself ON
that point" was the reply. "The fact is that
the beauties of California and Oregon hard
woods are but little known, and it is only a
few who have studied the subject who are
aware of the undevelOped industry existing
in the figured woods of this coast At the
last mechanics fair there was an excellent |
exhibition of California fancy woods, which |
surprised everybody. 1t was not supposed |
that our forests were so rich in such desirable |
growths. AS for the Oregon woods I think |
the aso Is very pretty. 1t is figured with |
concentrlc curves and admits of very high
polish. The Oregon maple is the most beau
tlfuI wood have ever seen, | think It's
color is light yellow, and its surface is
covered with small, wavy lines, which look
like snowflakes. 1t reminds one much of n
sheet of FURNISHED gold, and when the gas
light plays upon its FURNISHED surface the eff
feet is grand. Like most of our woods. how
ever, it is but little known. The Oregon ma
pie is also pretty wood. It's surface is COW
cred with small parallel lines, close together"
But tell me something about our own
woods" intelposed the reporter.
We'll, take the laurel" was the replv
california laurel Is figured beautifully, but
for it, it has been confounded
with pepperwood and myrtle, which are softer
woods and rot quicker. Our sycamore. which
laS only recently become known as a fancy
wood, is also very prettiiy figured. It's grain
S like that of the beech. and has something like
waving vertical lines close together. Wbv.
before its qualities as a fancy wood were
Known, 1t was used for the manufacture of
,obacco boxes. In New York it is called but
onwood. Sycamore is very strong, and can
20 used advantageously for veneering Red
wood is also a handsome wood for interiors.
-t admits of a very high polish, and for a
heap wood is probably one of the best in the
market. The best figures ON redwood are
generally found in the burls or large knots
Fpyy fCr11F
edwood. Laurel is also good hard
curious fact about laurel is thst wood.
ooks as if great tree had grow the tree
melted down and another w and then
rom the residue of the tY~> had grown
;rOwth makes a large C, This curious
he center of which the ground burl, from
lid specimen Of sue 1ree grows. A SPLEEN
49, ., ourel orr Il a formation may be
-, nf ebat "a, We, near San Rafael The
- - a. d is fully fifteen feet in diam
= - tree grows from the center Of
s LEADING FANCY WOODS
WHAT are our leading fancy woods?n
Wen, / should say walnut, sycamore
laurel and redwood are in the lead. They are
all very prettily figured. y good piece of
figured WOOD is always in demand for. as
our friend says, the use of such woods for in
terror decoration IS becoming very general
Redwood, I should say, seems at present to
be the favorite. The Santa Cruz redwood is
generally prettilY figured. You must under
stand, OF course, that a piece of wood must
be cut in just certain way to bring out the
figure, and it takes a good deal of experience
too, to know not only how 20 cut it, but how
to treat the wood so that the fip1Ire will he